I have a real passion for the Spitfire! I love seeing them up close and even more so seeing and hearing them in the air. It is such an iconic design – the wing shape, the nose design and that engine sound….wow!

I’ve wanted to paint a Spitfire for a while now so felt it would be the ideal painting to create for charity. I approached the Aircraft Restoration Company (one of the the leading restorers of vintage planes) to see if they had any old parts from restored planes that I could create a painting on for charity. I explained I would be speaking to the RAF Benevolent Fund charity to auction the piece at one of their events. The ARC really wanted to help with the project and donated an original complete wing skin section from a Mk IX Spitfire from the 1940’s!!!! Incredible!

So begun this very exciting project. The piece is titled ‘Heading Home’ and will be auctioned next year with all proceeds going to Help for heroes. Particularly nice timing as it’s also the centenary year for the RAF.

UPDATE – the painting was auctioned at the RAF Centenary Dinner at the British Museum and raised an amazing £5,000 for the RAF 100 Appeal.